Brake tester



D. F. GRAHAM Feb. 24, 1931.

BRAKE TESTER Filed Sept. 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l hn n mmm@ lvm; a n@NRJ mvv m vw hh. 0@ QN h. hk. Q n, l i o T@ v oo f QN 'QM @N NVM QQ .I VA sw N. .MV M m\ BMJ Q Se Q QJ NM Wsw n. @NWW @n Feb. 24, 19:?1. D,GRAHAM' l 1,794,168

y BRAKE TESTER i Filed Sept. 8l 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BM/MM 20 downwardpull.

Piuma Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Dam 1r. amant, oirJEnsEY SHORE, PENNSYLVANIA, AssrGNoE 'ro .asa E LINEN- noLL, or NoawALx,omo

BRAKE 'rEs'rEE My invention relates to new and useful improvements in abrake tester, and has for its primary object to provide an exceedinglysimple and effective device of this character which will ermit anunskilled person to ad# which this invention a pertains may underust thebra es of an automobile to practicaly the same tension and to permit theadjustment of four-wheel brakes so that the brakes on the two rearwheels may have a stronger tension than those on the two front wheelsand any desired degree'of diiference can `be obtained.

Another objectof my invention is to pro vide a brake tester of low costand rugged construction which can be quickly applied for operationwithout the use of any tools whatsoever, and one which may be readilyused in connection with a rear wheel, with an upward pull, or on afrontWheel, with'a Another object of iny invention is to proi vide a braketester having means forconnecting it with the outer end of a shaft orthe hub of a wheel when making a test during the adjustment of a brake.

' A further object of my invention is tb so arrange the parts of thebrake tester that the line of force used in operating the device will.

be on the center line of the wheel thereby eliminating side twists andproducing a more accurate indication -of the strength of the brake. 7

A still further object of my invention is to provide a brake testercomprising an adjustable hanger, ashoe pivotally connected to the hangerand adapted to engage the tire of an automobile wheel, a handleincluding a socket pivotally connected with the shoe,

- sectors also pivotally connectedwith the shoe and adjustable relativeto the handle, a .gage carried by one of the sectors and actuatedthrough an operating mechanism controlled by the force applied to thehandle against a Y spring between the shoe and a member connected withthe sectors, and means to relieve any extraordinary pressure on the gagedur# With these ends in view, ,this invention l consists in the detailsof construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forthandthen specifically designated by the claims.

In order thatl those skilled in the art to away andshown in section toillustrate a detain of construction and the wheel and its tire beingshown in section.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged side elevation of one of the sectors andcomponent parts'.

' Fig. 4, is a plan or top edgeview ofthe I dial operating arm ortrigger. h

In carrying out myinvention as herein embodied, 10 represents anautomobile wheel y* provided with the usual tire 11 and adapted torevolve on' or with a shaft 12.' The hub of the wheel is generallysurmounted by u hub cap 13. i y

adjustable hanger or link 1431s ada ted toengage the end of theshaft,the wheel ub or the hub cap, as the case may be, when the deviceis in operation and said hanger or link includes twd arms' 15 and 16adjustable lengthwise relative -to 'each other. At the outer end of thearm 1 5 is a gripping element 17 in the form of a. hook, ring or thelike having an' opening of su`n`cent size to pass over the largeststandard hub cap or shaft. The inner end of-the arm 15 overlaps aportion of the arm 1'6 which'is provided with aslot 18 for the passageof a bolt 19 orequivalent fastening device, said bolt also passing.through the arm 15 and having a nut 20 threaded thereon. The contactsurfaces of the arms 15 and 16 are preferably corrugated as 'at 21 toprevent endwise movement of the hanger arms after thefastening devicehas been tlghtp ened. The head of the boltV 19 is preferably 100 housedin a groove 22 in the inner face of the arm 16.

The opposite end of the arm 16 or the inner end of the hanger as a wholehas a pivot pin 23 mounted thereon for pivotal connection with the shoe24. The shoe 24 includes a tire or wheel engaging element 25, a tailpiece 2G,

a bearing 27 intermediate the ends of the shoe or between the tireengaging member 25 and the tail piece 26, and a hub 28 for a purpose tobe Apresently described.

y handle socket 29 has one end bifurcated for coaction with the hub 28so that a bolt 30 or other equivalent fastening means passing throughthe handle socket and the hub 28 pivotally connects said handle socketto the shoe and in addition, said fastening device connects one cornerof the sectors 31, similar to bell-crank levers, to the hub of the shoeand the inner end of the handle socket. A bolt 32 is fastened to anotherend of each of the sectors and carries a rod 33 having a shoulder 33',said yrod passing through the tail piece 26 of the shoe with a spring 34coiled about the rod 33 and having one end resting against the tailpiece and the other end against a castellated nut 35 or a washer 36interposed between the nut and the end of the spring, said nut beingthreaded upon the rod and held in the desired adjusted position by aCotter-key 37, a pin or other equivalent. The other corner of each ofthe sectors is adjustably connected adjacent the outer end of the handlesocket, by

' means of a pin 38 which may be passed through any one of the series ofholes 39 in the sectors and through the handle socket. The pin 38 mayalso be used for holding the han dle 40 in its socket where the two aremade separate from each other.

On one of the sectors and preferably on the outer face thereof ismounted a pressure gage 41 of ordinary and usual construction andincludes a dial 42, a free hand 43, an indicating hand 44, and anoperating stem 45 by which the indicating hand is actuated-due to inwardpressure on the stem 45. The inward pressure is caused by movement ofthe sector on which the dial is mounted toward the dial operating fingeror trigger 46 which finger is provided with a hub 47 so as to mount itupon the bolt or fastening device 30. The hub 47 of the dial operatinglinger is provided with a rearwardly projecting lug 48 and said lug hasa projection 49 at one side thereof.

A rod 50 having a curved portion and provided with an eye 51, at one endis mounted on a bolt 52 through the medium of said eye, and said bolt iscarried by the shoe 24 and may be Ythreaded into a boss 53 on said shoe.On the` rod 50 is mounted a coil spring 54 with one end engaging a nut55 and the other end engaging the projection 49 whereby the dial op-`erating finger or trigger 46 is normally held stationary relative tothe shoe. In order to adjust the position of the dial operating triggerrelative to the shoe, an adjusting screw 56 has threaded engagement withthe lug 48 and bears against the bolt 52 so that by screwing theadjusting screw 56 in or out'fthe dial operating trigger will be rotatedfor changing its position and this is advantageous when it is desiredtoreset the indicating hand 44 of' the dial by relieving the pressure fromor adding pressure to the stem 45.

As above stated, he gage is provided with an indicating hand 44""and afree hand 43 which cooperate through the medium of a pin 57 on the freehand so that when the indicating hand is actuated clockwise, the free,

The hanger 14 is first adjusted so that when.

the shoe 24 is brought into engagement with the periphery of the wheelor a tire thereon,

the outer end of said hanger will pass over,

the axle or the hub of thewheel.

The device being applied to the rear portion of the rear wheel of avehicle, an upward pull on the handle 4() will cause the tire engagingmember 25 to firmly contact with said tire so that thereafter the twowill move in unison.

When further pressure is applied to the handle 40 in an attempt torotate the wheel against the applied brakes, the spring '34 will begradually compressed through the medium of the sectors 31, the bolt 32,the rod 33 and component parts. This movement of the sectors and thehandle takes place about the trunnion 30 relative to the shoe and sincethe dial operating trigger 46 is practically stationary relative to saidshoe, the dial stem will be moved inward for actuating the indieatinghand 44.

From this, it will be obvious that when a. brake is locked in a certainposition and the wheel jacked olf the floor, theamount of presn surerequired on the handle 40 to slip the wheel under its brake will beaccurately registered on the gage 41 due to the compression of thespring 34. It is to be understood. that by applying this device to eachwheel separately and carrying out the above operation, the frictionalresistance of each brake may be readily and quickly determined.r

After the pressure on the handle 40 has been released the indicatinghand 44 is returned to its normal position in the usual lmanner, but thefree hand 43 remains and .brake for each wheel is adjusted, it may beregulated until the free hand is brought to memes the same positionafter a test on veach brake. Should the operator adjust the brakes tosuch an extent, that when pressure is applied to the handle 40, thewheel cannot be made to split under its brake even after the gage hasregistered its highest indication, then the dial operating trigger46will rotate about the bolt 30 against the action of the spring 54 sothat the parts will not be broken or otherwise damaged, and then whenpressure is relieved from the handle 40, the springs 54 will return thedial operating trigger to its normal position.

- In order to use the brake tester on the other rear wheel of anautomobile, the hanger 14 and its pin 23 are withdrawn from the shoe 24and then again inserted from the opposite side of said shoe so that thehanger is always on the outside when the device is in use.

When the brakes are of the four wheel type and it is therefore necessaryto adjust those on the front wheels, the device is inverted or turned upside down from the position shown in the drawings as the ront. wheelsshould be tested with a downward motion when the shoe is brought intoengagement with the front portion of the front wheels which is the mostpractical Way because the mud guards or fenders do not in terfere withthe operations.

The tire engaging member 25 is preferably V-shaped or has a V-shapegroove so that it will readily grip different sized tires and also acton the principle of a wedge, in other words, when pressure is brought tobear on the handle, the tire on the wheel will be wedged into theV-shaped groove, thus providing an extended contact surface.

In using the device a number of separate pulls can be made thereon veryquickly by simply-moving said handle in an opposite direction whichreleases the shoe, or more particularly thetire engaging member 25, fromthe tire. This action is analogous to that of the ordinary pipe wrench.In orderto set the handle in a convenient position for the operator, thepin 38 is withdrawn and the handle then adjusted relative to the sectors81 after which the pin 38 is replaced. This changing of the position ofthe handle relative to the shoe in no way alects any of the operatingparts.

It is to be particularly noted that when the device is in place, thehandle and the shoe are on the center line of the tire and therefore,the force will be evenly applied and accurate `tests made Vfor theadjustment of the brakes.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limitsof the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis:

1. A brake tester comprising an elongated gage on said pivotallyconnected means to indicate the force necessary to turn the wheelagainst its brake, and yielding gage operating means normally in fixedrelation to the shoe to actuate said gage when the irst mentioned meansis moved in that direction which' will rotate the wheel.

2. A brake tester for testing the tension of the brake by registeringthe force` necessary to turn a wheel against its brake, com rising anelongated hanger, means at one en thereof for connection with the hub ofthe wheel, clamping means carried by the elongated hanger to engage theperiphery of the wheel with its center on the center line of the wheel,tester operating means pivotally connected with the clamping means alsoon the center vof the wheel, yielding means normally holding theoperating means in predetermined relation to the clamping means whilepermitting movement of the operating means relative to said clampingmeans when force is applied to said operatin means, and means toindicate the force app ied to the operating means at the time of turningthewheel against its brake.

3. In a brake tester, a shoe to engage the periphery of a wheel, anoperating means pivotally connected with the shoe, means to provide aresilent connection between the operating means and the shoe, anelongated hanger pivotall and detachably connected at one end with t eshoe, and provided at the other end with means to connect it to a wheelhub, said elongated hanger comprising two arms ladjustably connectedtogether for longitudinal adjustment relative to each other, wherebysaid elongated hanger may be adjusted to the radii oi different sizedwheels, means carried by the operating means to indicate the amount offorce ap lied to the operating means to turn the w eel against 'itsbrake after the latter has been set and yielding means in the'path oftravel of the indicating means to actuate the latter.

4. In a brake tester, a shoe for engage ment with the periphery of awheel, operating means pivotall connected with the shoe, means toyielding y'resist movement of the operating means relative to said shoein one direction and to return said operating means to its normalposition after movement, and an elongated hanger pivotally anddetachably connected at one end to the shoe and provided at the otherend with means to connectit to a wheel hub.

' 5. Ina brake tester for turning a wheel against its brake after thelater has been set,

means for connection with the hub of a wheel,

. means pivoted to said first mentioned means lindicating means due tomovement of the l the hub of a-whee connecting means to the handlesocket. Y 8. A brake tester comprising an elongated operating means.

6. A brake tester comprising an elongated han er, means at one endthereoffor' temporari y connecting said elongated hanger `to a shoepivotally connected with the elon ated hanger for envagement at one sideo its pivot point with the periphery of the wheel, o erating 'meansivoted to the shoe in space relation to the pivot point of said shoewith the elongated hanger and for use in turni the wheel against its setbrake, includin a andle socket, connecting means journal ed on thepivotal point of.

the shoe and the handle socket and attached to said handle socket, andyielding means movably linking the operating means with the shoe on theopposite side of the ivot point from the latter, and means to in icatethrough the relative movement of the operating means and the shoe theamount of force necesary to turn the wheel against its brake.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein means is provided to adjustably attach the hanger, means at one end thereof for temporarilconnecting said elongated hanger to the ub of a wheel, a shoe pivotallyconnected with the elongated hanger for en a ement at one side of itspivot point wit t e periphery of the wheel, operating means pivoted tothe shoe in spaced relation to the pivot int of said shoe with theelongated han er includingl a handle socket, sectors journal ed on theivotal point of the shoe and the handle soclet said sectors havin aseries of holes therethrough, means selectively registering with any ofsaid holes and passing throngh the handle socket to adjustably connect te means movably linking the sectors with the shoe on the opposite sideof the pivot point from the latter, a a e carried by one sector,v

and means journal e on the same axis as the sectors and co-o eratingwith the gage and a portion of the s oe to actuate the gage when theoperating means is moved against the action of the yieldin means inapplying sulicient force to turn t e wheel agalnst its brake at apredetermined setting.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8 in connection with springcontrolled means to normally hold the gage actuating means in fixedrelation to the shoe but permltting rotation thereof after the gage hasindicated its' full ca acity.

10.` brake tester comprising an elongated hanger, means at one endthereof for temporarily connecting said elongated hanger to the hub of awheel, a shoe pivotally connected with the elon ated hanger forengagement with the perip ery of the wheel, a tail-piece carried by theshoe, operating means pivoted to the shoe in spaced relation to thepivot point of said shoe with the elongated hanger, including a handlesocket, sectors journalled on the ivotal oint of the shoe and the handlesocet, sai sectors having series of holes therethrough, meansselectively registering with any of said holes and coacting with the lhandle socket to adjustably connect the sectors with said handle socket,a shouldered rod pivotally connected with the sectorsv and passingthrough the tail-piece, a spring on said .A rod with one e'nd inengagement with the face of the tail piece opposite the rod shoulder andmeans adjustable on said rod and engaging the opposite end of the springto regulate gage mounted on one of the sectors and includes a dial,`anindicating hand, a free hand moved only forwardly by the indicatinghand, a knob for manually moving said free hand in a reverse direction,and a stem for actuating .the indicating hand, a trigger coasting -withthe gage stem, a hub by which the trigger is carried journalled on thepivotal point of the shoe and the operating means, a proj ection on thehub extending oppositely to the trigger, a stop carried by the shoe, aset screw having threaded connection with the projection and coactingwith the stop to limit movement of the trigger in one direction, a lugon the projection, a curved rod connected to the sto and assin throu hthe lu s rin sectors with said handle socket and yielding p p g g g p gholding means adjustably mounted on the free end of said curved rod, anda spring on the curved rod in engagement with the holding means andthelug to normally hold the4 having means at one end for connection witha Wheel hub, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end, an operating handlepivoted to the shoe,` sectors journalled on the pivotal point of thehandle and the shoe, means to adj ust'ably-conneet said sectors to thehandle, means to resiliently connect the sectors with said shoe, a gagemounted on one of the sectors to indicate the force necessary to turnthe wheel m against its brake, gage operating means journalled on thepivotal point of the sectors and coactng with the gage, and meansyieldingly onnectlng the gage operating means to the s oe. w Intestimony whereof, I have hereunto afxed my signature.

y VDAVID F. GRAHAM.v

